Hydraulic ram



March 17, 1925. 1,530,132

A. JORDAO. JR

HYDRAULIC RAM Filed Nov. 1, 1920 '5 Sheets-Sheet S5 8 67a dose/2 Fbr'mula til Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

ALFREDO Joanie, are,

TENT OFFICE.

or SAO PAULO, BRAZIL.

HYDRAULIC RAM.

Application filed. November 1, 1920. Serial No. 421,064.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Amnnno Jonniio, Junior, citizen of Brazil, residing at Rua Alvares Penteado 39, Sao Paulo, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Rams, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hydraulic rams and has for its object to produce a rain of greatly increased efiiciency not heretofore obtained and adapted to be used not only to raise water but also to operate a hydraulic motor.

In the drawing herewith, Fig. 1, is a central vertical section through the hydraulic ram, showing in elevation also the hydraulic motor, a portion of its casing being broken away. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional diagrammatic views; F ig. 4 is a similaryiew as that shown in Fig. 1 with the hydraulic motor and water-raising pipe omitted.

The water arriving in pipe 1 (Fig. 1) flows, when the valve 2 is open, through the valve-opening 3 and pipe 4 into the tank 7, in which a constant level is maintained, the tank being provided with a semi-circular spill 8. When the velocity of the water current increases sufiiciently to close the valve2 and to overcome the resistance of the counter-weight 9 connected with the valve by means of the balance 10, adapted to oscillate about the pivot 11, there results a violent shock in the chamber 12 of pipe 1 from the flow of water being suddenly in terrupted. This shock opens the check valve 13, so that waterwill now enter the airchamber 14 through the valve-opening 15, compressing the air in chamber 14. The compressed air forces the water out through pipe 16. After the shock in chamber 12 and pipe 1 has thus been absorbed, the valve 13 is again seated, while the valve 2 under the action of the counterweight 9 opens again, so that a fresh volume of water can rush in through the valve-opening 3, starting the second cycle. I

The check valve 13 consists of-a metal cover with a curved upper surface to offer greater resistance to the pressure in chamber 14. From the center of the cover'rises a cylindrical rod 18, which is guided in a bushing 19. The latter is carried by four brackets 20, the lower ends of which merge into a circular flange 21, wide enough to hold in place a. packing ring 22, forming the seat for the valve 13. by screws 24. its seat 22 an uniform circumferential opening is formed proportional to the volume of Water to be admitted at each cycle into the air chamber 14.

. The valve 2 also consists of ametal cover provided with a curved upper surface and secured to a pin 25 formed at the extremity of the balance 10, on which pin the valve is held by a screw 28. The seat of the valve 2 is formed by a packing disc 26, protected by a metal disc 27 formed by an inwardly projecting portion of the chamber 12. Screws 30 are provided forholding the packing disc 26 in place on the flange 31 of the tube 4. I

The valve-opening 3 can be decreased or increased by means of a lever 32 pivoted at 33, on the upper free end of which lever rests the arm of the counter-weight 9. The position of the lever 32 is determined by a screw-spindle 34, pivoted at 36, which screw-- spindle carries the nuts 35, between which the lever 32 held. an adjustment of The flange is secured As the valve 13 is lifted from the lever the exact size of the valve-opening 3 can be determined as on a micrometric scale..which is of great value for determining the exact consumption of the apparatus.

The distance between the valves 2 and 13 is as small as possible, being exactly equal to the diameter of the pipe 1. This results in a reduction in the capacity of the compression chamber 12 which is at the point. where the greatest force is produced at the moment the valve 2 closes. Water being capable of compression, altho to a limited extent depending upon the volume, it is evident that with the dimensions of cham ber 12'being reduced as much as possible, the shockproduced by the water will exert its maximum eflectupon the valve 13, thus resulting in great efiiciency. Moreover, the area of the interior surface of the chamber 12 being reduced, the amount of friction is likewise reduced.

The main reason for the high efficiency of the ram as shown lies in the position of the Valve 2 and tube 4. The valve 2 being disposed below the pipe 1 and opening directly into the downwardly directed tube 4, the flow of water through the valve opening and the tube 4 is'assisted by gravity, a vacuum the pressure in chamber 12,

beingproduced in the said tube by the 'out- As the tube 4 is constantly submerged in water in the tank '7, it is impossible for air to enter the tube.

Also the resistance due to the pressure of the outside air is completely eliminated, whereby the greatly increased etliciency of the ram is obtained. 4

It should be remembered that the pressure ot the atmosphereis 1.033 kg. per square centimeter, i. e. equivalent to a column of mercury of 760 millimeters at zero. My ram being provided with a vacuum tube, the tlow of the water has necessarily a greater velocity than under ordinary conditions. Therefore, my ram can be operated in cases where the fall of water is very small. The ram uses only a portion of the water for its own motive force. The remaining portion which is subjected to severe pressure is used to operate the hydraulic motor 46, the latter being, as shown on the drawing, directly connected-with the ram through the pipe 42. In the latter is provided a valve 44, whereby the flow of water to the motor can be shut oil.

The pipe 42 is made in two pieces, and at the junction thereof is provided a T-piece which carries the water-elevating pipe in which is included a valve 45.

The part marked 4'? and shown separately on the drawing is avalve used for the purpose of starting the operation of the ram. This valve is in some suitable manner fitted to the pipe 1. hen the valve 2 is closed, especially under a great column of water, it would he obviously impossible, to lift the valve 2 by forcing down the counterweight 9 on the balance 10. Therefore, to start the flow of water, the said valve 47 is used. The lever of this valve is first moved to one side, whereby water is caused to flow into the pipe 1 through an outlet connected to the valve. By moving the valve-lever to the opposite side, the outlet is closed, and at the same instant, one stroke of the ram occurs lowing a certain amount of water into the air-chamber 14 through the opening 15. By oscillating the valve-lever back and forth, the pressure in chamber 14 increases, and when this pressure is suflicient to produce the withdrawal of the water from the pipe 1, the valve 2 will open, and the operation of the ram commences.

In F igs. 2 and 3 I have shown in section a compensating recoil chamber as an auxiliary apparatus to myram.

The power developed by hydraulic rams decreases 111 an inverse ratio to the height of the elevating column for any given fall.

The cause of the decrease must be looked tor in the recoil, being the result ot the slight degree of elasticity of water and being indirect proportion to the resistance offered by the column of elevation. In hydraulic rams this recoil is indispensable for the continuous opening of the escape valve in order to produce a new cycle. Undoubtedly, the quantity of water in the elevation tube principally depends on the number of strokes made by the machine in a given space of time. In the case of great elevations, the water in the motor tube, when thrust back by the violence of the stroke reaches on its recoil a considerable distance from the compression chamber. To avoid the disadvantage of excessive recoil I have introduced. as a further improvement of my ram, the recoil compensation chamber. This chamber as will be seen from Figs-2 and 8, comprises an air chamber of the kind usually employed in hydraulic machinery.

It is placed above the motor tube and as near as possible to the feed boX of the ram. In its lower T-shaped extremity, where it connects with the motor tube is a retention valve which opens (Fig. 2) to allow the water to pass from the teed-box of the ram, and closes (Fig. 3) when the recoil occurs, holding up the water on its return and impeding its entrance into the feed box. As the motor tube is in communication with the air chamber at the moment of recoil. the level of the water is raised in the chamber in question and compresses the air in the chamber. The maximum flow therefore of the water on its return is determined by the amount of air existing in the chamber, and this amount is fixed by means of the screw which is provided in its upper'part. It the chamber were full of water the ram could not work, its retrograde movement being impeded by the retention valve. By the means already mentioned the amount oi: air in the chamber can be fixed at the mini.- mum required to allow of the indispensable recoil, it being a matter of certainty that the velocity of the water at the beginning of each cycle will be increased by the superpression exercised against the air by the previous recoil. In this manner the machine commences towork without loss of time and will maintain thesame number of strokes at great or small elevations. the development of power being thus maintained unchanged for the two extremes.

With reference to Fig. l. 38 denotes the bearing for the balance 10. The base 39 of this hearing is fastened to the cover 31 of thetank 7 by bolts 40. The tree end of the adjusting lever 32 is provided with a suitable lining 37.

I claim as my invention:

1. A. hydraulic ram comprising in combi nation with the flow-pipe and the air-chamber. a constant level tank. a check valve intcrposed betwecnthe said flow-pipe and airchamber, a discharge-valve in the said flowpipe opposite the said check valve and in direct communication with thesaid tank, an oscillating balance enclosed within the said tank and carrying the said discharge-valve, a central bearing tor the said balance, a por tion of said balance extending through the wall oil the said tank outside thereof, and an adjustable counterweight carried by the said extending portion.

2. A hydraulic ram comprising;- in combination with the flow-pipe and the aiiwchamher, a constant level tank, a check valve interposed between the said flow-pipe and airchamber, a dischargewalve in the said flowpipe Opposite the said check valve and in direct communication with the said tank, an oscillating; balance carrying the said discharge valve, a central bearing for said balance, a rearward extension on said balance, and an adjustable counterweight carried by the said extension, an oscillating arm adapted to contact with the said extension for detel-miningthe position of said balance, and means for adjusting the said arm on a microinetric scale.

3. A hydraulic ram comprising in combination with the water-pipe and airchainber, a tank below the said water-pipe, a dischargcn'alve, the said valve being formed of a metal cover having a curved upper surface, a check-valve between the said waterpipe and the said air-chamber, the said check-valve being also made of a metal cover equal to the diameter of the having a curved upper surface, means for guiding the said check-valve, a compression chamber being formed between the said two valves, the distance between thesame being said waterpipe.

4. A hydraulic ram comprising in combination with the flow-pipe and the airchamher, a. constant level tank, a check valve interposed between the said flow-pipe and airchamber, a discharge-valve in the said flowpipe opposite the said check valve and in direct communication with the said tank, a vacuum tube extending into the tank below the said discharge-valve and being immersed in the said tank, an oscillating balance carr iing the said discharge valve, a bearing for the said balance, and a means for adjusting the said balance on a mierometric scale, and a disc carrying the said vacuum tube and the said bearing of the said balance and forming a cover for the said tank.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFREDO JORDIKO, JUNIOR.

Witnesses JOHN E.-MIERS, LUIZ SALADAUBRA, 

